Pitbull to Host New Year's Eve Live Show for Fox

A first foray for Endemol's Live division, Miami-set "Pitbull's New Year's Revolution" will include live performances by Pitbull and other A-list musicians and DJs.

Fox will ring in the New Year with Pitbull.

Much as ABC does with Ryan Seacrest, and before him Dick Clark, Fox is putting its money on the pop star formally known as Armando Christian Perez. Beginning at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, he’ll be broadcasting live from Miami, where he’ll perform and be joined by name-brand musicians and DJs. The event, titled Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution, will air during Fox’s two-hour primetime block and then will return post-news from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

“The world needs to get ready to un-mute New Year’s Eve, because we are taking the party from the Big Apple to the Pineapple. New Year's Eve is officially in Miami and hosted by yours truly, Mr. Worldwide. P.S. Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but whatever happens in Miami never happened, Daleee!” said Perez in a statement announcing the news Monday.

Revolution is being produced by Pitbull’s production company, Honey I’m Home, in association with Endemol Live. The latter is the latest genre foray by Endemol North America, which is jointly run by co-CEOs Cris Abrego and Charlie Corwin, and speaks to the growing interest in DVR-proof fare in an era of fractured viewership and heavy dependence on time-shifting devices. Abrego and Corwin, who assumed their positions seven months earlier, inked an exclusive overall deal with Pitbull in January. The New Year’s entry will serve as their first collaboration with him and the new division’s first live special.

“Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution is the start of a new tradition as people around the globe gather for the biggest celebration of the year. This special will be unlike anything else you have ever seen on television, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Honey I’m Home,” said Abrego, with Corwin adding: “Launching Endemol Live reflects a larger plan to continue to evolve Endemol North America into a studio for next-generation success and profitability. We look forward to partnering with Fox on our first Endemol Live presentation.”

For Fox’s part, the bet is not only on an event -- a popular word within chairman KevinReilly’s halls -- but also a way to get into business with a globally relevant pop star and capitalize on his reach. Thanks to rare crossover appeal, Pitbull's career sales have exceeded 5 million albums, and he can tout No. 1 hits in more than 15 countries. What’s more, his videos have been viewed more than 3 billion times, and his social media footprint includes 16.5 million Twitter followers.

“Pitbull is one of the most charismatic entertainers in the world. We are thrilled he has chosen Fox as the home from which to launch this New Year’s Revolution,” added Fox’s evp alternative entertainment, Simon Andreae. “This event will be packed with chart-topping acts and can't-miss surprises. With Pitbull in charge, it's sure to be the hottest party on the planet.”